Spring connection



Aug-. 7, 1934. i

E, H. COOPER Er Al. A

SPRING CONNECTION Filed spfc. 11, 195o d/zrz WmzZ/, INVENTORS [evi C/Ya ATTORN EYS ably hardened so as to resist wear.

Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITI-:D` i STATES PATENT OFFICE assignors to The Fafnir Bearing Company, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Applicationv September 11, 1930, serial No. 481,103

zclaims. (creed-s4) Our invention relates to aspringshackle.

It isthe general object of the present invention to provide an improved form of anti-friction spring shackle which will becheap |to manufacture, simple in construction, rugged and durable in use, easy to assemble and disassemble, and not ilikely to get out of order.

It is the further object to provide improved details in various individual parts and in combinations all looking to simplicity, cheapness,

and serviceability.

In the drawing which shows, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the inventionlFig. l1 is an end vew of a shackle and associated ends of a spring and frame, parts being shown in section to illustrate interior construc-y tion..

Fig. shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a retainer plate;

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary view illustrating a slight modification. 1.1,. v

In said drawing, 5 indicates a part of a frame, while 6 indicates a part of a spring to be connected to said frame by means of our improved shackle. The shackle includes links 7-7, which are duplicates of each other so that adescription of one will suffice for both. Each shackle link is preferably formed of pressed metal, which may be sheet metal of the proper thickness and remain of substantially uniform thickness after being pressed into shape., Each link is preferably of substantially channel shaped form having a substantially continuous flange completely therearound. At spaced parts, preferably at the ends, each link is provided with a bearing race, which, in the form shown, is a groove 9 in the bottom of a cup 10 formed by a stamping or pressing operation. The central portion of the cup is preferably drawn up as indicated at 11 so as to provide a sufficiently deep groove so as to retain the balls against inward radial displacement. The flange portion of each link intermediate the ends is preferably extended as indicated at 12, so as to form a truss-like structure to resist bending of the link intermediate the ends thereof.

The raceways 9 for the balls 13 are prefer- Those parts of the flange at the sides of the link are deepened roughly from race to race as indicated at 14, to resist` fracture under working strains and may even be somewhat resilient in case that be found desirable. The stamping or pressing of 2 is a view in side elevation of partsthe link into shape tends to condense the metal at the raceways and, with proper dies, very smooth raceways may be provided. The raceways are preferably further hardened as by propery heat treatment, as will be understood. 1t is preferable in vmanufacturing on a commercial scale to harden the entire link and subsequently subject thefportion of the link intermediate the raceways -to heat `treatment so as to toughen thesame forthe purpose of resisting fracture, as heretofore noted. e

- The anti-friction bearing members, as .balls 1,3, may be held from escape from a detached link'v by means of a plate 15 which preferably completely fills the'inside of the channel shaped link 4.and which may` be provided with an outwardly directed continuous iiange 16 closely fit-p ting'theucontinuous angeof the link so as to provide a comparatively `tight seal.v If the race-Y ways 9,3116 filled completely full of balls of the proper'size, the balls in effect form arches which prevent each yother from inward radial displacement, and the plate 15, coming up quite closelyvv tothe balls, prevents axial displacement. The drawing up of `the;,Central portion 11 of the cup so as to provide a relatively deep groove further acts to prevent radial displacement of the balls, and even if the grooves or races be not completely lled, such drawing up of the cup or deepening of the groove race Will prevent radial displacement of the balls. Y

It is to be understood that normally the separate links Will be loaded with balls and the plates 15 will then be pressed into place and the spaces beneath the plate loaded with grease so as to surround the balls. The link may then be handled and sold as an assembled unit.

The frame and spring carry bearing means complementary to the raceways of the'links, and in the form shown we employ through pins 1'7-17, which may be, and preferably are, duplicates of each other. In the form shown, these pins are rigidly held in an eye of the frame and spring as by a drive fit, and in addition means such as a set screw 18 taking into a groove in the pin may be employed for additional security for either or both of said pins. The pins 17 are preferably provided with raceways 19 formed directly thereon. The balls 13 are interposed between the raceways 19 and the raceways 9 of the links. The raceways 19 may be turned, hardened, and then ground, but we prefer to rough-turn the races 19 and then before hardening finish the same by a swaging or pressing operation, which provides a cheap tively thick and are compressed between the" :considerable detail, it is to be understood that sides of the frame and spring and the plate 1-5., The rings 21 preferably surround the pinsl 17 quite closely so that the rings 21, piris'il',anti-fA plate 15 form an effective lseal. for excluding dust.v` from and retaining lubricant'` on thej" bearing members 13 and their coasting. surfaces'. LI'he links are spaced apart preferably bymeans of.

a separate spacer sleeve 2 2.tting between the links which may engage the* plate 15, thus serv'-v ing to retain the plate in place and d'eiinitelyl be' substantiallypreloaded, the *spacer 22] ,isf

shortened. On the other hand, if they balls` are to be onlylslightly preloaded or not preloaded at all, the spacery 22 is made longer' or spacermeans added y,

` Inthat form shownY in Fig. 4,' instead 'of having the felty ring' or washer2-I 'fit directly against lthe plate 15,weemploy a-.separate sheet `Imetal' cup 25, which may fit-'within the flange ofplate4 15fas shown. Thead'ditional cup 25 servesltov give added peripheral support to the feltwaf.-,l1e'r` 211. Such Cups 25 may or Vmay not be employed. The feltlwashers mayA bev compressed betweenv 9 the shackle links and adjacentspring It-will-be seen thatv we have pr/ovidedfashackle' construction of ibut few and# simple parts. l All parts are readily and cheaply manufactured and assembled and the entire assembly may be "very quickly made. The parts, though simple and cheap to manufacture, are of exceedingly sturdy construction, not likely to get out of order, and will be long lived. Due to the effective seal of the bearing members, fresh lubricant will be required only at long intervals, if in fact a. second lubricationis, ever required during] the life of the car.

' While' the invention has been described in various modifications, omissions, and additions,

as defined` in the appended claims.'

-We claim:`Vv y Y 1. VAs an` article of manufacture, a shackle link comprising. a.l substantially channel-shaped member, having raceways at spaced apart por- 'tions thereof,A anti-friction bearing members on vsaid raceways, and an outwardly flanged plate plate fitting Ain said channel portion of said.V

link, .the flange of-said plate being in Vclose fitting engagement withfthe continuous flange4 of'said link, anti-friction-bearin'gsmembers on the 4raceways of said link and being held against axial.-

displacementf by said" plate.

VvELISHAIH. COPER. i

'RAYMOND R. SEARLES..

JQHN' W. SMITH.. I.

- L: C.v `HOUSTONJ 

